Georgian MFA: Russian Servicemen Visa Row Solved

Georgia will issue one-year multiple-entry visas to the Russian servicemen stationed in the country, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze said on March 6.

Commander of the Headquarters of the Russian Troops in the Trans-Caucasus (GRVZ) Andrey Papov said on February 28 that Georgia was only issuing single entry visas, which could hinder the withdrawal process of the Russian bases from Georgia. 
 
“The consular department [of the Foreign Ministry] has been instructed to grant one-year, multiple-entry visas for those Russian servicemen who are staying in Georgia and whose visas have expired. Visas will be issued to those servicemen who enter Georgia by rotation. So this issue is settled,” Merab Antadze said.
 
He also said that the Georgian side is ready to issue visas to the Russian peacekeepers stationed in Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict zone as well.

“We are ready to issue multiple-entry visas to the representatives of the peacekeeping forces, if they apply to us,” he said.